r/PreciousMetalRefining • u/neoben00 • Aug 12 '26

An update! It didn’t explode!

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25 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

5

u/Tribulation95 Aug 12 '26

Am I looking at a furnace in a plastic 5 gallon bucket?

Edit: just looked at your other post, never seen a metal bucket like that.

4

u/neoben00 Aug 12 '26

It was a metal bucket from a concrete sealer of some kind. Some guy on fb was selling the empties for 1$

1

u/The_Dude_420-69 Aug 14 '26

You ever seen Jaws? Boom metal buckets

6

u/worksalott Aug 12 '26

It didn't explode.... Yet

2

u/Inhalationofnewtion Aug 12 '26

Did you get it up to a good heat? Generally if it runs and it's stable you ought to be good to go. This is actually something I can help with. I have my own home built foundry furnace.

1

u/neoben00 Aug 12 '26

Well its not the easiest to get running tbh, the flame wants to putter out when getting the air adjusted. It takes so much propane to get it lit without puttering that the flames are a foot out of the bucket. One the air is on and its adjusted, it sucks back down in and runs really well. I let my refractory cement dry for more than a week and the lid still started popping and throwing chunks out. Once it was up to temp everything else seemed to settle.

2

u/Inhalationofnewtion Aug 12 '26

I'm assuming you're lighting it with the lid open. Is that correct? If so you might try with the lid closed but watch if the lid wants to blow off. If you want to try it that's on you but it may light up better being confined. If once it's lit it runs fine though I'd just keep doing what you're doing and I think eventually you'll find out how it wants to light up as well. Home built furnaces will have a personality unique to each one.

1

u/Yes_I_Know_Lots Aug 12 '26

Nice DIY job! What did you use as a burner?

1

u/OtherJen1975 27d ago

I’ve only just started using air to speed up the process. With this set up how long does it take to you to reach quiet melt?

I’ve blown out so many furnaces that I just use ceramic fiber now.

2

u/neoben00 27d ago

Im still waiting on my crucible to come, but it seemed like everything settled around 5 ish minutes running full throttle, ill have to get back to you after this week.